Swedish investment group snaps up composites specialist

A Swedish investment group has secured a deal to acquire Derby-based advanced composites specialist Pentaxia.

Axvik Group targets niche companies in the aerospace and defence supply chain.

The Pentaxia deal is its third acquisition and follows its move into UK composites through Slingsby Advanced Composites.

Founded in 2008, Pentaxia produces composite parts for defence, aerospace, automotive and motorsport customers.

It employs about 120 people and operates from a 70,000 sq ft facility in Derby, where it handles design, tooling, manufacturing and finishing.

For Axvik, which is headquartered in Stockholm, the deal increases both production scale and technical breadth in a market where lightweight, high-performance materials are becoming more important across demanding industrial applications.

Mark Brixey, chief executive of Axvik Group, said: “Investing in and developing well-positioned companies in the aerospace and defence supply chain is exactly what Axvik is set up to do, and Pentaxia joining the group alongside Slingsby Advanced Composites is a clear step in broadening our UK composites footprint.

“The two businesses bring complementary capability to Axvik across materials, techniques, and applications.

“Pentaxia brings a broad capability base, long-standing customer relationships, and meaningful capacity at its current production facility.

“Our role is to support the growth and development of Pentaxia, not to change what already works well.”

Pentaxia will continue to operate under its own brand, as will Slingsby Advanced Composites.

Axvik said it will focus on supporting strategy, growth and capital allocation, with day-to-day operations remaining with the businesses.